Here's a theory, he had some sort of physical pain, after all we know he had an appointment with a massage therapist because of the critical role she played in the discovery of his body. So he took some medication, the pain still didn't go away, he woke up, not remembering he had taken the other drugs, took some more, demonstrating a need to emphasize the dangers of these drugs and the importance of a pill box. To many people think that a drug prescribed by a doctor can't hurt you, even when taken with another drug prescribed by another doctor. One thing I do when watching DTC commercials is note the side effects mentioned that have little if any relationship to the drug advertised. As we all know, the problem is not just with psych drugs. Still a sad, sad tragedy, preventable too.

Just as an aside painkillers reputedly actually ended up making pain worse when they wear off (somewhat like antidepressants end up making depression worse over the long term). Doctors and patients alike think they need to up the ante without realizing the drugs are actually part of the problem. It's a vicious cycle. Throw in Ambien or some other psych drug that causes amnesia (or at least forgetfulness) and you have a dangerous situation. 28 year olds I guess don't think they are at much risk of dying but you can only push your body so far. I think he was foolish, naive or something, but I still weep at the loss of talent and life and wonder if Britney can be far behind.

Question: what kind of physical pain did Ledger have; did it justify taking OxyContin; and was he addicted? Purdue Pharma, the makers of Oxy, is one of the few to face criminal charges for misleading the public as to Oxy's addiction potential whilst encouraging doctors to wildly overprescribe the stuff for pain conditions that can be adequately treated with FAR less dangerous drugs.

Based on what I've heard from people who have done both, there may be more people who can snort coke without getting addicted, than can take Oxy without getting addicted.

Yes Johanna, you're right about oxcotin's addictiveness though if I remember correctly it was first marketed as a pain killer it was impossible to be addicted to by Purdue. Ironic, huh?

Maybe the pain he felt was only on the inside and he just wanted a few minutes of relief. This could give reason to the missing common sense.

I suspected drug-drug interaction from the beginning, based on stupidity of doctors rx'ing several anti depressants and pain killers to my friend who died from that fatal combo. At first, we all thought it was "natural causes", at age 49? until the report came back.

I feel, that once on these med combos, as many of us know [myself included] the mix can leave a person unable to think at all, let alone advocate for being on too many meds.

Most ppl. don't research meds, they take what the doc orders. It is alarming.

A cocktail of medication is exactly that - a cocktail......

Why are these things allowed to occur - under prescription medication.....

I see no difference in going to a doctor and getting these meds than going to a street dealer - what's the difference......

Yes, it's very sad - it's also a wake-up call - the human body/brain was not meant to take a cocktail of meds - street variety, prescription variety, or otherwise......

Duane Sherry

Exactly, Philip.

That's why I don't understand why a lot of people (including your fellow blogger Therese Borchard) were excoriated for originally calling Ledger's death a suicide.

Intentional? Apparently no. Suicide-by-prescription interaction for a man with much pain and feckless docs? Apparently yes.